SquashTalk >Rankings section > WISPA Sept 1, 2005 Rankings

	CURRENT EVENTS English Open SquashWorks Womens Jr Wds RECENT EVENTS Pakistan PSA Chennai PSA Superseries Qatar Airways CONTENT Hall of Fame News Index RSS Version Club Links Gear Links E-boast Newsletter     (sign up now free)
www.princesquash.com

Grinham Enjoys Razor-Thin Edge at No 1

London, Sept 1, 2005 by Howard harding © 2005, photos © Debra Tessier and SquashTalk © 2004

Nicol David(R) stays at #3 position while Shelley Kitchen remains at #13 ... © 2005 Alex Wan

Rachael Grinham Joins Top Five World Number Ones
While the order of the top twenty did not change in the new September Women’s World Squash Rankings, announced today (31 August) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), Australia's Rachael Grinham moves into her 14th successive month in pole position – and celebrates a breakthrough into the top five women's number ones.

The first women's world rankings were published in April 1983, when Australian Vicky Cardwell ruled the game and headed the maiden list. Since then, nine more players have topped the rankings – with Cardwell pushed into fifth place of longest-serving world number ones, behind England's Cassie Jackman (16 months at No1); third-placed Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald (40 months); second-placed Australian Michelle Martin (58 months); and runaway top-placed New Zealander Susan Devoy, who amassed a total of 105 months as the world's number one from April 1984 to February 1993.

But Grinham has now overtaken Cardwell to claim fifth position – hard on the heels of the now retired Cassie Jackman!

However, the 28-year-old from Toowoomba in Queensland will have to improve on the form she showed in July's Malaysian Open, when she bowed out at the semi-final stage. The October rankings will reflect the form of the players in next week's PMI Seattle Open in the USA, where top seed Grinham is expected to meet close rival Vanessa Atkinson – the world No2 from the Netherlands – in the final.

Such is the tiny points gap between the pair that only a slight stumble will see Grinham's 14-month reign come to an end.

Also likely to provide stern opposition for the Australian is Malaysia's Nicol David, the world No3 who beat Grinham in the Malaysian Open, but is drawn to face Atkinson in a semi-final showdown in Seattle.

By contrast to the static senior world rankings, the new WISPA Rising Stars ranking list for the Association's junior members boasts a new number one, and four players rising to the remaining positions in the top five! Egypt's Raneem El Weleily tops the new list, ahead of No2 Charlie de Rycke (Belgium); No3 Lily Lorentzen (USA); No4 Joshna Chinappa (India) and No5 Sally Looi (Malaysia).

1 [1] Rachael Grinham AUS
2 [2] Vanessa Atkinson NED
3 [3] Nicol David MAS
4 [4] Natalie Grinham AUS
5 [5] Natalie Grainger USA
6 [6] Linda Elriani ENG
7 [7] Vicky Botwright ENG
8 [8] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
9 [9] Jenny Duncalf ENG
10 [10] Tania Bailey ENG
11 [11] Jenny Tranfield ENG
12 [12] Madeline Perry IRL
13 [13] Shelley Kitchen NZL
14 [14] Annelize Naude NED
15 [15] Isabelle Stoehr FRA
16 [16] Rebecca Chiu HKG
17 [17] Fiona Geaves ENG
18 [18] Alison Waters ENG
19 [19] Pamela Nimmo SCO
20 [20] Laura-Jane Lengthorn ENG

OTHER AMERICAS PLAYERS IN TOP 100 AS OF AUGUST 1 2005:

22 [23] Latasha Khan USA
31 [32] Samantha Teran MEX
34 [33] Runa Reta CAN
37 [38] Melaine Jans Burke CAN
39 [39] Katie Patrick CAN
43 [42] Alana Miller CAN
59 [58] Tara Mullins CAN
61 [59] Marnie Baizley CAN
62 [60] Lily Lorentzen USA
64 [62] Shabana Khan USA
63 [63] Nicolette Fernandes GUY
67 [66] Louisa Hall USA
70 [68] Meredith Quick USA
83 [84] Ashley Clackson CAN
100 [101] Britt Hebden USA
106 [107] Seanna Keating CAN
107 [109] Carlin Wing USA
112 [111] Michelle Quibell USA
133 [127] Ivy Pochoda USA

[complete rankings for August '05]